The Commission

Creation of the Washington Asparagus Commission was approved by referendum vote of growers in March 1991. Commission activities are funded by an assessment of one percent of the gross receipt at the first point of sale of asparagus. That assessment became effective April 1, 1991.

The commission is charged with the tasks of monitoring trade issues, promoting asparagus both domestically and in foreign markets, and pursuing research which will benefit the asparagus industry.

Asparagus Recipes and Tips

Asparagus harvest underway in Eastern Washington

Recent warmer days in Eastern Washington prompted asparagus to start sprouting, and workers are harvesting the spears on farms around the Tri-Cities.

The Associated Press

KENNEWICK, Wash. —

Recent warmer days in Eastern Washington prompted asparagus to start sprouting, and workers are harvesting the spears on farms around the Tri-Cities.

Pasco farmer Gary Larsen told Tri-City Herald ( http://bit.ly/XFlVyn) the quality is good and he has enough workers for now. He says growers are waiting for warmer weather to spur the asparagus to grow faster.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture says about 4,700 acres of asparagus were harvested last year in Washington and the crops was worth about $18 million. Most of the acreage is in Benton and Franklin counties.

LOS ANGELES – Gourmet Trading Company, the leading supplier of fresh asparagus in North America, announced that their WA Grower Field Representative, Phil Clouse, was awarded Washington Asparagus Person of the Year. Clouse first began working for Gourmet Trading Company in 2005 when the company established a state of art packing facility in Washington set to revive the deteriorating industry. This year will be the company’s 8th consecutive season of Washington Asparagus.

The early bounty of the asparagus bed

The first freshly picked spears of asparagus are a welcome gift after a long winter. Elsewhere in the garden, early spring planting takes a while to show results, as potato stems break the soil surface, pea tendrils grasp their trellis netting and the green fuzz of newly sown carrots appears in rows. Not much is ready to pick yet — maybe some over-wintered scallions and spinach.

But up pops the asparagus from its permanent bed, the reward of work done in the past. Only after three years of its growth can you pilfer the spears without robbing the plants of their strength, and only for a six-week season.